Heat Wave Prompts Beach Visits as Officials Stress Rip Current Safety

Scorching temperatures across much of the U.S. are expected to send many Americans to beaches and pools over the Fourth of July holiday weekend. Officials warn that rip currents remain the leading weather-related cause of death in coastal areas and stress the need for basic water safety steps.

Technology is helping lifeguards and forecasters detect hazards the eye cannot see. A National Weather Service meteorologist in the mid-Atlantic region said rip currents are the top weather-related fatality in that area. The office, one of 122 facilities nationwide, issues rip current forecasts twice daily to inform local beaches from New Jersey to Delaware.

They can pull swimmers away from shore at speeds of one to eight feet per second, faster than most people can swim. A chief lifeguard at a New Jersey beach advised anyone caught in a rip current to stay calm, keep arms down, tread water, and control breathing. The lifeguard said the best way to signal for help is to turn toward the beach and raise one arm.

Pools also pose risks, and officials recommend fencing plus alarms that alert when a gate opens. Such alarms cost between $150 and $300. The Red Cross advises learning to tread water for at least one minute, swim 25 yards without stopping, and exit a pool without stairs or a ladder. A life vest rated for the wearer's weight can provide additional protection.